8 6-13 (4
Hebrews Series- Fellowship Baptist Church
Passage: Hebrews 8:6-13 (2)
Theme: The Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood – A better covenant
Proposition:
Introduction:
We have been studying the similarities and differences between the Old and New Covenants that God made with the Nation of Israel. We have seen the following similarities:
Both were made with the Nation of Israel but both have provisions by which gentiles may participate in the blessings of the covenants.
Both required the person to make a commitment to God’s commands and expectations.
Both were initiated by a blood sacrifice.
We have also looked at the following differences:
The Old Covenant was conditional but the New Covenant is unconditional.
The Old Covenant condemns humans but the New Covenant brings humans to God.
The Old Covenant produced conformity as a result of knowing God’s truth but the New Covenant produces transformation.
The Old Covenant allowed an awareness of God but the New Covenant allows for a personal relationship with God.
Today we will look at the last two differences between the two covenants as presented in this passage. They are found in the forgiveness of personal sins and the current status of the covenants.
2. The Forgiveness of Personal Sins
Man’s greatest problem is that he has acted in ways that cannot be overlooked by a holy and just God. In fact, because of our corrupt nature, God’s purity and righteousness rejects our association with Him, condemns us as guilty, and demands punishment for our crimes against Him.
What is needed is forgiveness of these crimes and offenses and the mercy of God throughout the history of mankind has provided a way by which a person’s sins may be forgiven and individuals may approach God.
What is important for us to understand from this passage today is that God has changed how this forgiveness can be attained. There was one way under the Old Covenant and another under the New Covenant.
Forgiveness in the Old Covenant
The best way to understand forgiveness under the Old Covenant is to use the word “temporary.”
It was not that forgiveness of sin could not be attained as the pages of the Old Testament are filled with statements regarding the forgiveness of sin:
Micah 7:18 - "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."
The words mercy, pardon, long suffering were all familiar to the Israelites and the sacrifices all provided for the forgiveness of their sins.
It was not that forgiveness could not be attained, it simply was never final.
Hebrews 10:3 "But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year."
Day after day sacrifices were offered for personal sin and year after year came the atoning sacrifice for the nation as a whole. But each one was a constant reminder of the sin, and therefore the condemnation and punishment that was just over the horizon of the future.
Forgiveness in the New Covenant
But look at what we find in the New Covenant, a vast and radically different forgiveness of sin.
The first statement
I will be merciful toward their iniquities – essentially the same as what we find in Micah 7
The second statement
And I will remember their sins no more – something new and different. What is this difference? It can be found in the word “permanent.” The phrase that is used in Hebrews 9 & 10 is “once for all.” All sin for all time.
There is much to learn about this fact but for today, this is as far as we will go.
The Status of the Covenants
The Old Covenant – it is finished, it is obsolete, it is over.
Why does the author say first that it is obsolete and then say it is “becoming obsolete and vanishing away?”
Because for those under the New Covenant, it has become obsolete. For those outside the New Covenant, it still applies but soon will no longer be needed at all.
The New Covenant – it is here
There are those who wish to continue to emphasize the Old Covenant with its requirements not only for the unsaved, but also for the saved. You are accepted with God, just don’t violate the law or you are out of favor with God:
He won’t answer your prayers
He’ll make you sick
He’ll take your possessions
He’ll get you
There have always been those who seek to prolong the existence of that which is replaced—nostalgia, security, or tradition. These are blenders, remodelers, renovators. They hear the word “new” and think “improved”
Early church – Judiazers – come to the new through the old, or the new requires the old.
Modern church – Legalists – those who insist on the law in order to earn merit with God.
There is a difference between “new” and “improved.”
New kitchen cabinets = new house
New season = new earth
New patch = new pants
New engine = new car
New house, car, earth, clothes means completely different-
Old is replaced
Old is gone
Old is obsolete
So it is with the law:
Sacrifices replaced by the sacrifice of Christ
Blood of animals replaced by the blood of Christ
Human High priest replaced by the Divine High Priest
Law of Moses replaced by the Law of Christ
Are you a blender or a renovator?
Do you believe that keeping the law makes you acceptable with God and violation of the law brings condemnation and punishment to the Christian?
Do you believe that God favors you more than another because of your works?
Do you obey because you fear punishment or because you love God?
